Towel cabinet



NOV.` 21, 1944. 1 ROUSSO '2,363,149

TOWEL CABINET Filed sept. 2e, 1941 5 sheets-sheet' 1 NOV. 21, 1944. ROUSSO TOWEL CABINET Filed Sept. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Shea?. 2

Nov. 21, 1944. ROUSSQ 2,363,149

TOWEL CABINET Filed Sept. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l Ji 5 d c 75025* Kassa,

Nov. 21, 1944. ROUSSO 2,353,149

TOWEL CABINET Filed sept. 2s, 1941 5 sheets-wiegt 5 a cyues jakssq,

.1 o i UNITED LSTATES PATENTv OFFICE i Patented Nov. 2.1; i944 N 2,363,149 N f 2,363,149 f'roWELcABINEr o Jacques Rousso, Chicago, lll. Application September 26, 1941, `Serial o p l 15 claims. (C1. 211956) U L My invention relates to towel cabinets or racks --5 of Fig. 1,1 loutfwith` the door ofthe cabinet adapted to `support and holdajplurality of clean closed; i i i t t l individual towels` usually arranged in a stack or Fig; 6 is an enlarged `verticalsection.taken on pack, in convenient positionto be easily grasped for use withfacility and to permit the used or soiled towels to be movedorI slid to an out of the way position and out of contact with the clean f towels, t after use,` to prevent the contamination ofthe clean towels. v

Another object of theinvention is to provide a 1o Fig. 6; i i holder or retaining loop for a supply `of `individ- Fg- 9 iS 21 detailed perSpeCtiVe View 0f a key ual towels to facilitate delivery of the towels from employed; t j i c i i V theiaundry and mounting` thereof for use, as Fig. is alfront elevation ofzo modified towel Well as `removaland returnV of the same tothe support; y i t l laundry without removal or lossof towels from Fig. 11 iS a Side elvdfton;`

theloop or holder. t i l.

Another object is to provide a simple andpracing a supply of clean towels of the individualtype and for supporting the samein position for read- Y ily accessible and convenient use or to` facilitate the use thereof over awash basin and for storing the sameiafter use, such `asin a cabinet, which also serves to store medicines, toilet articles and the like such as a razor, comb `and brush,v etc., x and by which the `'retaining loop may be easily` p placed inposition `for use of 4thetowels or removedas a unit` for `replacement byeJ new clean supply andv forsliding the individual towels back outof the way after use.`

Further objects and advantages will appear and be brought outmoretfully in the following specification, reference beinghad tothe accompanying drawings, in] which:

Fig. lis a front elevation of an individual type of towel cabinet in accordance with the inven" tion andshowing the dooropened;

Fig. aise vertical section taken onkthe im@ 2--2 of Fig, 1;

Figa `is a vertical section simiia'rto Fig. 2, butshowing only the lower portion of the cab-` inet, with the towel holder swung'out and down` in positionfor use of the towels andthe relation thereof to a wash basin;

object or the invention to provide a novelretaining loop` for slidably supportl the `lines B--B of Figs. 1 and, after some of the towels have been used vand turned back into the i rear of the cabinety" tical means for compactly supporting and retain- Fig. 4`is a side elevation .ofone of the towel retaining loops with the towels thereon;

Figi 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line Fig. 7 is a` fragmentary vertical section taken onithe line 'l--l of Fig. 6; i i

l Fig.' 8 is a` section taken on `the line 8-48 of` i Fig. 12 `is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line l2-I2" off Fig. `10 `with the towelsused and swungdown;

Fig. 13 is aivertical` section` takenI on` the line i l3fi3of Fig. `12; and p Y U Fig. `14 is a detailed side elevation of `one of thei'towel retainingloopsas employed in` the modied form, in open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and the form shown in Figs. 1 to 9; inclusive, the` a wall. The cabinet is shown provided with` V shelves 20 adapted to support suitable toilet articles oraccessoriessuchfas shown. Thecabinet is shown provided witha front doorzl hinged as at 22 and having a handleor knob 23 on the outside andga projection 24 on the inside designed to engage a catch or keeperl 25.fastened to one of the sidewalls |81"andimay have atmirror 26 at t the front. t i

a pair of bearings 21-shown in the form of metal `blocks fastened to the bottom adjacent the sides as by means of screws 28, and having reducedends 2S spaced from the bottom adjacent the door and provided with bearingsockets 30 at the "inside, `A supportingframel adapted to swing f verticallyl on a horizontal axis is` pivoted in the `bearings 2l, `and for this purpose,l has aVbot-tl tom cross barp32 .with reduced pivot trunnions` 33 at the ends bearingin the sockets 30. `At

the sides of the `frame are uprightsu34 mounted on the `cross bar `32 adjacent the ends thereof The bottomfor horizontal support I1 supports o and having a slotted front member or frame 35 with a central-depending U-shaped portion or frame 36 forming spaced sides or legs with a slot or opening in the center and having its bight or bottom portion 31 anchored as at 38 to the cross bar 32. .The upper ends of the front member or frame 35, that is the vertical legs 3B, extend outwardly as at 39 and connect to the uprights 34 as at 48 but below the upper ends thereof. Substantially V-shaped or angular side members 4| are provided on the uprights 34 and form abutments to engage the back or upright support |9 to limit the swinging movement of the pivoted frame t an upright position and form guiding and retaining means for the towels at the vertical side edges thereof. The side members 4| have substantially horizontal upper portions or guide bars 42 which, however, are preferably inclined slightly forwardly and are then bent as at 43 to form angular abutment portions adapted to engage the upright support or back wall I9 when the supporting frame 3| is raised to a vertical position while the lower portions are inclined forwardly as indicated at 44 and anchored horizontally to the upright side` members 34 as indicated at 45.. This connection may be made through holes in the uprights 34 and then by upsetting the ends of the horizontally extended portions at the lower ends of the inclined portions 44 and fastening the upper ends detachably as by means of screws 46. An upright separator plate 41 is slidably mounted on the forwardly inclined portions 42 which serve I as a substantially horizontal support and guides therefor, and, for this purpose, Athe plate 41 is preferably provided with -apertured bosses 48 forming bearing sleeves to slide on the portions 42 without binding. The lower edge of the plate 41 may be ycurved forwardly as indicated at 49. An upright supporting bar or post 50 is provided on or secured to the plate '41, as indicated at I', and extends above the portions 42 and the top edge of the plate 41. This post has a forwardly inclined supporting arm 52 at its upper end and is disposed off center laterally and provided with al forwardly inclined squared recess 53 in one sidev'open toward the center Iand forming a substantially rectangular seat for a towelfretainingunit to be later described. v A latch v54 closes the recess 53 and may be pivoted on the post as indicated at 55 and provided with a linger piece 55 at its lower end by which it maybe manipulated while the upper portion extends across the lrecess -53 and may be swung down to open thesame.

' Slide brackets 51 in the form of slotted guides or guideways are mounted on the opposite sides |8 and each consists of a wear plate 58 with spacing blocks 59 adjacent the upper yand lower ends thereof. The slide brackets, and thus the plates, are disposed in inclined positions and the plates and spacing blocks are secured to the sides I8 as by means of screws 68, the blocksl forming stops, as will be subsequently described. Spaced parallel guide strips 6I are mounted on the plates against the inner faces of the blocks 59 and secured thereto as indicated at 52, thus forming guide slots 63 therebetween. Links 64 have outturned lower ends 65 providing pivot trunnions engaged in the slots 63 and are adapted to slide therein. These ends are provided with flanged coll-ars or enlargements 66 which ride in the spaces between the stripsfl and the plate 58 limited by thestop blocks 59 and having hubs 61 at the slots 63. The upper ends of the links bottom |1 of the cabinet forming the horizontal 64 are turned inwardly as at 68 and engage bores 59 in the uprights 34 where they are held as bymeans of Cotter pins 10.

The retaining units for a supply of individual towels each consists of an elongated continuous or endless loop or separable link 1I, the lower portion 12 of which is inclined forwardly parallel to the guide bars 42 and an upper portion or section 13. `The lower section 12 has a curved end 14 and the upper section 13 has a similar curved end 15 which curved ends are hinged or pivotally connected as at 18, `and the forward end of the lowersection 12 is curved upwardly as indicated at 11 meeting the end portion of the uppersection 13 as at 18. A sleeve 19 is pinned or otherwise mounted or formed on the reduced forward .end of the section 13 and has a reduced bore in its free end through which a plunger 88 is adapted to operate. This plunger has an enlargement 8| at its inner end to engage an internal end shoulder within the end of the sleeve and prevent displacement of the plunger therefrom under the action of a compression spring 82 mounted in the sleeve to force the plunger outwardly. The meeting .end of the curved portion 11 has a pocket orv latch recess 83 with a suitable key` slot 84 adapted to take the bit 85 of a key 85 for depressing the plunger and permitting the loop or link 1I to be'opened. Thelower section 12 of the loop is preferably provided with one or more fiat sides 81, particularly at the bottom, or may be of squared or other polygonal cross section to engage the squared recess 53 and support the loop in an upright position, as well as to prevent turning thereof. The loop is designed to take a supply of individual towels 88 having eyelets or grommets 89 by which the towels are slidably mounted on the loop. These towels are preferably folded upwardlyy as indicated at 98, so that their free edges 3| may hang over the upper portions 39 of the frame 35 and at the center opening or slot between the portions 36 so as to be readily grasped and pulled down through the slot for use. `By

- having the supporting frame 3| pivotally mounted to swing forwardly to an inclined position as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the device is adapted for convenient accessibilityl and useI over a wash basin 92 having-the usual faucets 93. When this is done, the front towel is'used andthe frame 3| swings forwardly on the pivots 33 with the lower ends of the links 64 riding in the slots 53 until the anges or enlargements 66 engage the upper ends of the guideways formed by the stop blocks 59 to limit the swinging movement and support the device in the inclined'pos'ition shown in Fig. 3. After use of the towel, th latter is slid over the top section 13 after passing over the curved portion 11 and the meeting ends of the sections to ride down the curved por7 tions 15 and 14 to the lower portion or section 12 where it is suspended in back of the separator 41 out of contact with the clean towels, thereby preventing contamination of the latter. This position is shown more particularlyfin Fig.- 6 of the ,drawings with the towels resting on the shelf or support. It will also be observedfthat as the towel supply is used up by withdrawing the clean towels from the front and depositing the same at the rear, the separator plate 41 will ride forwardly on the forwardly inclined guides 42 with the supporting postl 58 moving forwardly on the lower section 12 of the loop 1| which is held against movement'by they front opposite` wall of the slot 99. pin,.bolt or plungerd `1 extends throughathe 2,363,149 i and: back walls.` of the: cabinet, until the entire supply is used up and all ofthe soiled ltowels are deposited.atthefloacln` When it. is `desired to renew theisupplyof clean towels; one` ofthe loops withlthe: towels` thereon assembled at the laundry is delivered as aunt. l

`has no access ..towthe individual* towels, since the The.` delivery iman key is retained at the laundry. `andlthus the towelsvcannotfbe `removed from the loop. He

merely-removes a unit` by opening` the latch 54 which releases `theloop and permits the insertionof another` one,n with a clean towel supply "thereon and returns,r the, soiled ltowel. unit tofthelaundrywwhere the` towels `may be removed byinserting:` the` key 8G Ito. permit thegloop to be opened andthe towels removed therefrom'y for laundering. `The piyoting of the towel supl port orholder also facilitatesthe placingwand removal of the units but it is `not necessary to move the holder out of the cabinet to a forwardly '1iinclined position in order to use lthe towels.

In themodied form shown inlFigs; to 14,l l

inclusive, an upright `sutnoc'irt or wall94 `is provided corresponding to the backlS of the cabi-` i net and may be 'a `boardorfplate or used with a cabinet.` The horizontal. shelflorsupport is injoined or detachably connected in the sameman-z ner as previously described in connection with the loop-"1| :and theparts thereofat'such point are designated by the same` reference characters.; 'Ihe clean towel supply` units are` thus detachably mounted, the towels 88 having the eyelets or i grommets `89 slidaloly mounted on the loop IH, butextending upwardly asindicated'in Figs. 10 l `and 11 of the drawingsand folded downwardly as indicated `at 90 so that the ends 9|" are freely accessible abovethelshelf to draw the towel out.`

wardly from the `upper to the lower section `of the loop onthe curved portion IT when infuse.` Upon' release of` themtowels after use,` they ride down the inclined lower section H3 and are sus pended out of contact; with the` clean towels. `Ii` dicated at. 951From` which `the upright support may` depend and this shelfmay be in the `form of anr open or reticulated frame,l or otherwise. and` `rigidly mounted on `the :upright support. l A bracket plate 9Bmay be secured to the upright lsupport .i as indicated ati9'land has a `vertical rib 98 in the center` with a vertical slot `99 having a bottom lugl` or wall |00 closing the same and forming arearwardly inclined seat I0| The i horizontalsupportor shelf 95 has a central slot l |02 in lfrontiof the slot 99` and the bracketplate 96 is provided Withsuitable means for detachablyholding :a towel unit` in position.` Asshown, this means is inthe' form; of a cylinder counterbored portion or housing f|03at one side` of Vthe 1 rib 98 and `having a reduced bore v|04 in `one wall of the `ribil communicatingwith theslot 99.7and an opposed registering socket |05 in the A spring-pressed cylinder and is designed to engage through the` x bore um` and with the socket ms.Y This plunger |06 has an `enlargement or flange 1| 0I limiting its` inward movement under the action of a;com pression `spring. |08 disposed in the cylinder between the flange or enlargement |01 and a screw collar or aperture plug |09 in the outer end of the `cylinder with the plunger extending therefrom and designedto adjust the tension of the spring. The plunger has an operating head or nger piece ||0 by which it may be released.

The towel unit includes a `separable loop or link corresponding to the loopfll` but of slightly modified form. The loop is shown providedwith a vertical portion ||2 which is rectilinear and of square or other polygonal cross section to t in the slotor `'groove 99 in back of the plunger |06. A"I'he lower section `of the loop is., rigid withthe portion I2 and inclined as at H3 and the end thereof, which engages the seat I 0|, is also preferably of rectangular cross section. In this instancethe portion ||3 is" inclined` rearwardlyinstead of forwardly as is the portion 'l2 in the` previously described form andthe top section ||}4 has a depending end ||5`pivoted at IIS to the upper end of the vertical portion H2. `The forward portion of the bottom section `I I3 is curved upwardly as indicated at ll'l and the meeting ends of the Cil A desired;` a` follower,` such as spring arms H8, may be mounted against the uprightsupport 94 above `the towels `88 with curved ends H9 `pressing Y against the front of the towel supply tofretain them inpositiom` `Inneach instance,` a stack or f lpaok oftowelsis mounted on a loop which is separable in order` to mount the towelsyin` fur- `nishing a clean, supply `which `are handled asV separate units and` to permit removal of the,

soiled` towels forllaundering, thus `not only ipro` viding a compactarrangement, but also facilitatingthe mounting, use and removal `of the towels without being unsightly in appearance, whether housed in a cabinet, or not. In. replace ing asupply of towels in the form shown in Figs.

l0 to 11i,` inclusive, it is `only necessary to With-` draw the plunger |09 from thesocket` |05 and from` in front` of the vertical portion 'l l2 to permit removal of theloop and soiled towels there-.-

with so that anotherloop with; a supply of `.cleanl towels thereonmay be placed in position and held inthe mannerdescribed.` l l y i l `WhileI haveillustrated andjdescribed thepreferred ,form of` construction for `carryingI my in-` vention into effect, thisgiscapable of variation i and modication `without departing vfr'om the4 spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to `be limited tothe precise details of construcf. tionl set forth, `but desire to availmyself of such rvariations and modications as come within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my inven-tion`,whatl claim as` new and desire to secureby Letters` Patentis:` N l a 1.,A towel supply means including a continuous elongated loop adapted to mount individual towels thereon and means itowslidaloly support said loop on edge. Y

2. In a towel supply means, a towel holder for individual towels having grommets including an nedge l and means to` slidably support said loop on. one

endless `separable loop arranged vertically side `against `turnirigsaid side being inc forwardly. x

3. In a towel retaining means for individual towels having eyelets, an upright support, a separable elongated continuous loop smooth throughout its continuity slidably mounted at one side on said support with its long sides at the topand l bottom to slidably mount the towels thereon.

4. In a `towel retaining means for individual towels having eyelets, ranupright support, a separable elongated `loop slidably and releasably mounted at one long side on said` support so as to be readily releasable` bodily and` with 1 its long sides at `the top and bottom to slidably mount the towels thereon and means to` loop `from tilting to either side.

prevent said sections ;|.|3` and H4 ati the" top are separably 6. In a towel retaining means, a horizontal.

support, `a frame pivoted -,on the support and adapted to swing from an upright to a forwardly inclined position, said frame having means to limit said movements, fa follower slidably mounted on the frame andan elongated loop mounted on the followerand having separable portions to slidably mount individual towels thereon through the vmedium of eyelets.

7.7111 a -towel support, a slotted member, a loop supported in said member on edge and having separable portions, said towels being slidable on the loop and adapted to be drawn through said slot, the soiled towels being separated from the clean towels after use. i'

8. A towel supply means including a horizontal shelf and an uprightsupport, a frame pivoted on the shelf and adapted to swing forwardly to an inclined position, means to support the frame when swung forwardly, ymeans to detachably mount a separable loop on the frame, means to slidably mount towels on said loop and means for separating clean towels from soiled towels.

9. A towel supply means including a horizontal shelf and an upright support, a frame pivoted on the shelf and adapted to swing forwardly to an inclined position, means to limit the forward movement of the frame, means' to detachably mount a separable loop on the frame, said loop being elongated horizontally and slidable relative to the frame and being supported on edge, the towels being folded and adapted to be slid from one portion of the loop to another portion thereof when used. l l l 10. Ay towel supply means including a horizontal shelf and an upright support, a frame pivoted on the shelf and adapted to swing forwardly to an inclined position, means to limit the forward movement of the frame and support the same in its lforward position, means to detachably mount a separable loop on the frame,

said loop being mounted in an inclined posi--` tion and adapted to automatically move the towels' to one position as used upon drawing a clean towel'.

11. A towel supporting means including an upright support, a horizontal support and a loop having elongated sides arranged with its elongated sides above and below the horizontal support and comprising hinged sections with meeting ends, key operated means joining said ends, one side of the loop being adapted to receive a supply of a clean towels for sliding movement thereon to the other side after use.

12. A towel supply and supporting means including a slottedmember and a'n elongated loop supported in and adjacent said memberi and comprising hinged sections, key operatedmeans for joining and releasing said sections, said loop designed to slidably mount towels thereon having eyelets to be drawn through said slotted member andslid to another portion of the loop after use.

13. A towel rack, including an elongated substantially horizontally separable loop for slidably receiving and retaining a stack of individual towels with eyelets, means to support the loop in al vertical position elongated horizontally, and a slotted member arranged in juxtaposition rto the loop and through which slot the towels are drawn forr use, said loop adapting said towels to be slid to an out of the way positionafter use. 14; A towel holder including an elongated loop comprising hinged sections having abutting free ends, a bottom portion and a flat portion,`key operated release means connecting said ends longitudinally thereof, and a support having an inclined polygonal recess slidably fitting said bottom portion for free sliding'movement and supfor holding a plurality of grommeted towels, said loop formed of a pair of hinged sections having abutting ends and a key controlled lock seeining said abutting ends, in combination with a partition to separate the used and unused towels,v and means connected to said partition for releasably holding said loop in position.

JACQUES ROUSSO. 

